Evening Star Newspaper, October 30, 1931, Page 5

LEAGUE PREPARES T0 DEFEND STAND President Issues Fresh At- fack on Naval Policy Critics, } Alleging Faisehoods. [ (Continued Prom Piret Page) by Mr. Gardiner. and. The true purpose of s and the people who #re interested in propagandizing them Joslin said he was not informed as to 'hen the committee to investigage Gar- iner's claims would be appoin ‘The executive meeting of the league Wil be held in the next few days, prob- Wbly in this city. Date and place of the conference will be arranged at the con- wenjence of the committee members $Howe said. Members of the execBtive committee, addition to Chairman Howe and sident Gardiner, are Henry Breck- ridge, New York City, N. M. Hub- bard, ir., Chicago; Arthur Curtiss James, New York City; Henry Cabot Lodge, ew York City; Nelson Macy, ork City: Ogden Reid New' York City; T. Douglas Robinson, Mohawk, N. Y, and James W. Wadsworth, Ge- mesea, N. Y. It is understood that several of the | executive committee members were con- sulted by Gardiner before he issued his | statement criticizing the President Whether the whole committee sanc- tioned the announcement could not be learned. Gardiner and Howe Silent. Both Gardiner and Howe declined to Miscuss the developments today, beyond yeferring reporters to the former's com- ment made public last night. Gardiner and Howe were in confer- ence all morning at Howe's law offices. Directors of the league, in addition to the executive committeemen, in- elude, Woodbury Blair, Clement L. Bouve, Mrs, James Carroll Frazer, Wil- Yam M. Galvin and David Jayne Hill, all of this city; Mrs. Aida de Acosta Breckenridge, Mrs. Robert W. Kelley and Mrs. Herbert Longendyke, of New York_City; George P. Chittenden. Bos- ton, Mass.; Templeton Crocker, Burlin- Calif.; Marion Eppley. Newport, L; George E. Leach, Minneapolis, Minn; Gen. Charles F. Macklin, Bal- | timore, Md.: Charles Martindale, In- dianapolis, Ind.: Clarence Ousley, Fort ‘Worth, Tex., and Mrs. Leigh Richmond Smith, Berkeley, Calif. Stimson Attacks Statement. Secretary of State Stimson said to- day the Navy League’s statement con- tained “fi deliberate” ‘He added he had read only the first page of the statement, having Jaid it aside as unworthy of further at- | tention after his eye fell on a sentence which he said contained misstatements. The sentence to which he referred said agreements had been reached be- tween President Hoover Minister MacDonald of Great Britain at the Rapidan camp two years ago which had never been divulged in thelr entirety. The league had added that access to the records of the Hoover-MacDon- ald conference had been refused the Senate even in cxecutive session. Both assertions were termed false by Mr. Stimson, who added “even imper- fectly informed gentlemen must be aware” of their falsity. He said full access to the records had been granted to every member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who would agree not to give them to the newspapers. He also asserted the | Senate did not sit in executive session on the matter, The records, the Secretary said, were intrusted by him to Senator Reed, R publican, Pennsylvahia, one of the delegates to the London Naval Confer- ence, with authorization to show th to any members of the Foreign Rela- tions Committee who would not make them public. Apparently unperturbed by the turn of events, Gardiner showed no inclina- tion to apologize. He was “surprised.” he sald, that Mr. Hoover would appoint & commission of his own rather than sponsor & congressional in‘estigation “Of course I should welcome the congressional investigation that would bring out and publish all the pertinent facts,” he added. Recalls Shearer Incident. The severity and suddenness of the ! President’s move recalled his almost similar action c¢f two vears ago. Then. without warning, he struck at William B. Shearer, who claimed he had helped | wreck the unsuccessful Geneva Arms Conference of 1927. He called Shearer a “propagandist” who had “organized zealous support for increased armament”’ and criticized “all efforts of our government to secure internaticnal agreements for the re- duction of naval arms.” Shearer came before a Senate committee The President let it be known some weeks ago he would go directly to the American people, if necessary, to com- bat efforts to arouse public cpinion in favor of increased naval expenditure He was represented then as indignant at supposed efforts of Navy Department rsonnel to block budgetary decreases e was advocating. Since that time the Navy has submitted new 1933 budget estimates slicing approximately $61.- 000,000 from its previous $401,000,000 figures. ‘Throughout officials said the President had '‘no comme to make” upon Gardiners statement Then, after darkness had fallen, news- paper men were called suddenly back to the White HouS “It is desirable” Mr. Hoover's state- ment said, “for the public to know the character of this indirect campaign of misinformation to defeat the efforts of , the high officials of the Navy Depart- ment and the administration for duction of Pederal expenditure not mediately essential in order that yesterdiy m- we Remember 1340 G St Our Only SMALL Poattirely Do understa: At w are met satisfied we will ¢ 30 Days BEGIN WEEKLY PAYMENTS DECEMBER 1st, 1931 Chas. M. 1340 G St. N.W. New | -ant misstatements evidently | and Prime | SIZE PIANO may avold increased taxation of the | people in these times He did not, however, specify what | part or parts of Gardiner's statement | he considered “untruths and distor- | tions of fact.” | Here are some of the assertions made | in the Navy League pamphiet H The President was charged with ex- | hibiting an “abysmal ignorance of why | navies are maintained and of how they are used to accomplish their ma- Jor mission.” Secret Agreements Charged. i A proposal by him to immunize sea- | borne food supplies during time of war | | was attacked as making for “bigger and | bioodier wars.” | | The President and Ramsay MacDon- | ald, British prime minister, during their | conversations In 1029 wore salf o have reached sgreements that have never ofcially been divuiged in their en- The administration was seen as pos- sibly inspiring the plan of Poreign Minister Grandi of Italy for a one-| year armament holiday. { Acceptance of the Grandl proposal, it was said. would widen the ratio of the American, British and Japanese fleets to 100—14.7—11.9, as against London treaty proportions of 10.1—10.2—6.8. The Navy League declared its pam- phiet was necessary to “a real appre- ciation of the impelling motives back of President Hoover's efforts at every turn to restrict, to reduce and to starve the United States Navy—under the present plea of budget limitation, on which we may have further cause to comment.” : { In answering the League of Nations' invitation to participate in the arma- ments holiday, State Department offi- cials said the actual text of the message was short. In itself this was taken to| mean that the United States' accept- ance was not hemmed about with ex- | ceptions and reservations. | Officials indicated the holiday would not apply to vessels now under con- | struction. but only additional arma- {ment. The League plan would become | effective Sunday. | To Demonstrate Fallacles. | Before definite commitments are | made, however, each nation will be ac- quainted with' the measure of agree- ment which has been reached as to exact extent of the holiday Referring to this proposal, the Navy League's pamphlet contended it would enhance “British and Japanese inter- ests to the prejudice of analogous’in- terests of the United States, although the responsibility of the President Is \primarily to and for the United States.” The President's reply said the com- mittee to be appointed would sit as an |agency before which various arms of | the Government could demonstrate fal- lacies in the Navy League's claims. Text of S 'ment. The text of the President's statement follows | “The Navy League states in its an- nouncements that it has ‘for a quarter | oi a century specializea in ag-urate in- formation 10 Navy matters’ and ‘the principal activity of the league is to | disseminate facts bearing on Navy mat- ters to the press. “In order that the country may know the untruth and distortions of fact in Chairman Gardiner’s recent pronounc:- | ment I will appoint a committee, includ- ing members of the Navy League, to whom agencies of the Government will demonstrate these untruths and dis- tortions of fact. Such an inquiry will absolve the members of the league who have not participated in this statement Upon its completion I shall expset Mr. | Gardiner to make a public correction of his misstatements and an apology thevefor. “It is desirable for the public to know the character of th’s indirect campaign of misinformation to defeat the efforts of the high officials of the Navy De- | partment and_the administration (n!q reduction of Federal expenditure not order that we | immediately essential in xation of the may_avoid increased people in these tim In Difficulties Before. This is not the first time the Navy League has been in conflict with ad- ministration policies, It was recalled today that during| President Wilson's term, before the dec- Jaration of war against Germany, rep- | resentatives of the lsague wers barred | from all naval ships and stations by | | officer order of Secretary of the Navy Daniels. Daniels’ order was the culmination of | a feud which developed be.ween the league and President Wilson over the| latter's_efforts to avoid entering the World War. The league had carried on | a determined campaign for “prepared- | ness,” and when an official of the| league issued 'a particuiarly vitriolic statement, the Navy Secretary issued his ban. Condemned in House. One of the first acts of Secretary | Denby when he succeeded Daniels as Navy chief was to lift the ban on the league | More recently, the league Was con- | demned on the floor of the House of | Representative last February by Repre- | s ntatives Burton L. French of Idaho.| chairman of the subcommittee on naval rpropriations. In response to French' charges that the league was motivated v interests,” Howe issued an | opey letter of denial, in which it was staced that all members of the league are civilians having no connection with the Navy, except that there were a few retired naval officers on the rolls. Howe also denied insinuations that “armament interests” were backing the league in its fight for a bigger and better Navy.| £ [ Two miles of traffic was held up for | three hours at Hockliffe, England, when | a stream of burning beeswax and liquid | polish from a truck which had caught | on fire, poured on to the road. Graduate MeCormick Medical C:Mew DR. CLAUDE S. SEMONES Eyesight Specialist Phone National 0721 cLachien Blds., 10th and G Sts. N.W. Gl Ey BRAND NEW and Jnst the Size for the Small Apartment or Home Regular $275 Value—Now Stieff, Inr. Washington, C. Open Evenings Until 9 4 \i THE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON .o B Oy FRIDAY, . OCh GBER 30, 1931 ENGINEER IS HEAD OF NAVY' LEAGUE William H. Gardiner Native of Boston and Friend of Secretary Adams. William Howard Gardiner, president of League of the United in which the Chief Executfve is accused of “abysmal ignorance of why navies are maintained and of how they are used to accomplish thelr major mis- sion.” is an engineer, #s is Mr. Hoover. Mr. Gardiner was born in Boston. Mass, near which Secretary Adams makes his hcme, and is a friend of the cabinet officer. Pushed into the public spotlight by the now famous Navy League state- ment, issued over his name, Mr. Gardi- ner and his organization today found itself the center of attraction for news- paper writers and protographers. Partner of Doherty. Mr. Gardiner is temporarily in Wash- ington, where he is stopping at the Hotel Powhatan. His home is at 333 East Fifty-seventh street, New York City. He has been associate partner with Henry L. Doherty, New York pub- lic utilities magnate. and has been closely identified with that phase of industry. The president of the Navy League is a chemist, electrical and traction engi- neer and he concentrated on. this ec- tivity from 1900 to 1907. He became consulting engineer to a number of g's compenics in Bost:n and in 1907, join- ed Mr. Doherty's organization in New York. He engaged actively in engi- neering and in the mansgement and financing of public utilities. Mr. Gardiner retired from business in August, 1914, to engage in war work and later developments brought him into close ccntact with the armed forces of the United States, in which he has never lost interest. He is the author of the view that| “North America, particularly the United States, has ceased being virtually self- sufficient and is taking on the char-| acter and outlook of a great island centrally placed in the oceanic world.” | President Since 1928. Upcn this end many similar subjects, Mr. 'Gardiner has written articles pub- lished in such journals as the Yale Re- view, the Atlantic Monthly and the North American Review. He is a_member of the Academy of Political Science and of the United States Naval Institute. Mr. Gardiner became vice president of the Navy League of the United States m 1922, and has been its president ' | Aght it out.” since 1928. William H. Galvin, secretary of the Navy League, explained that the league gets its funds from membership. There is a $3 annual membership, he said, | and a $10 sustaining membership. Con- tributing members give various amounts. The executive secretary said that many of the league’s membets are well-to-do. Combatting the statement that the league is “just & bunch of naval offi- cers,” Mr. Galvin asserted that there is not one regular active naval officer in the league's membership. There are not over a dozen retired naval officers on its roster, he asserted. The offi- cer personnel of the league has never formed more than 1 per cent of the organization, and they are not eligible to hold office under the league’s consti- tution and “have not directed, nor attempted to direct the league’s policies.” Three Vice-Presidents. Mr. Galvin has been identified with the League for 12 years, and never to his knowledge, he said, has a Naval attempted the League's work. The League has three vice-presidents —Mrs. James Carroll Frazer, who is well known in Washington, promi- nent socially, and was very active dur- ing the war in charge of the Comforts Committee of the League, which knit- ted vast numbers of woolen garments for sailors; Arthur Curtiss James, cf New York City, and Ogden Mills Reid, of New York City. The League's vice-president and tres- urer is Nelson Macy, prominent New York business man. The assistant treasurer is Dwight N. Burnham, of Washington. The members of the League’s Execu- tive Committee are Col. Henry Brecken- ridge, of New York, Assistant Secretary of War in the Wiison Administration; Mr. Gardiner, Walter Bruce Howe, Former Senator James W. Wadsworth, r. T. Douglas Robinson. Assistant Secretary cf the Navy in the Coolidge Administration; Mr. Reid, Mr. James, Mr. Macy, Henry Cabot Lodge, grand- son of the late Senator, and N. M. Hubbard, jr., of Chicago. $30,000 Annual Budget. Mr. Galvin said that the league had about 4.000 members. It is understood e league's annual budget runs ind $30,000. Mr. Gardiner indicated in his fa- to influence mous pamphlet that the league will have something to say about the naval budget figures now being compiled when they are made public. This was made known in the pamphlet's final paragraph, which follows has been necessary, however. to Fas been said above if we are have a real appreciation of the im- pelling motives back of President Hoo- ver's efforts, at every turn, to restrict. and to starve the United -under the present Diea udget limitation on which we may have further cause to comment.” M:. Howe, chairman of the board of the league. pointed out that any Amer- ican citizen is eligible to membership in tre league, and that it has members in every State of the Union. - only inhibiting clause in our const paval officer In the aetive rervies mav! be an official of the league,” Mr. Howe acserted Shared Peace Prize. The league's investment income “is derived solely from notes secured on real estate in Washington, D. C." Mr. Howe said. The league maintains its office here. “where naval information is collected and where informative cir- culars are prepared.” ~Regarding au- thorship of the league’s circulars. Mr. Howe said thst “most of the actual writing had been done by William Howard Gardiner, our president William M. Galvin, the executive sxcre- tary, and by myself.” He recalled that the league's mem- bership has enbraced “such high- minded and patriotic individuals & Cardinal Gibbons, President James of the University of Illinois, Prof. Stein- metz, Albert J. Beveridge and Alton B. Parker, to mention only an eminent cleric. an eminent educator, an eminent scientist and two eminent statesmen of | differet_political faiths,” adding that “in 1918 Theodore Roosevelt gave to the Navy League a paft of the money awarded him with the Nobel peacs prize.” INQUIRY INTO NAVY BY CONGRESS SEEN Efforts to Be Made for Public Probe Along Lines of Present Controversy. Efforts will be made early in the coming session of Congress to bring about a congressional investigation scmewhat along the lines of the probe to be made by a presidential commis- cion of the controversy between Pres- ident Hoover and officials of the Navy League over alleged “big Navy" propa- ganda, it was learned today. Chairman Britten of the House Naval Affairs Committee. however, today de- clined to enter the controversy. His attitude, put plainly, was: “Let them Warns Against Reduction. Chairman Britten did “warn” against naval reduction at this time, which is at the bottom of the Navy League con- troversy. He said: “Any controversy between the President and the Navy | General Board will develop, I believe, that American public opinion favors maintenance of a Navy that is large enough to protect the interests of the United States in any emergency. For members of Congress to suggest or stand for anything else would be ruinous.” In his warning, Representative Britten opposed “radical” naval economies. He declared emphatically that this country should refrain from reducing its Navy at this time, when “actual warfare is going on in Asia, when Russia is mobilizing her tremendous military, naval and aviation forces in Manchuria | and when the whole world is sitting on a volcano which may blow off at any moment.” Shouldn’t Impair Fighting. “I do not think we should cut our Navy at a time when practically every great power on earth is indebted to us by sums ranging from thousands of millions of dollars downward.” He declared that “the whole world is on fire and we are surrounded by sparks today just as surely as when President Wilson uttered those words. Economies for the Navy are all right when they do not impair the maneuvring, the shooting and the actual fighting value of men and ships.” eVERFRESH CITRATE or MAGNESIA EFFICIENT But NOT HARSH 25¢NIN CLEAN EW BOTTLES Folks:— The old adage, “Price makes its own than today! markzt," was never more true Our tongues are hang- ing out from waitin' on trade. Yoo " Just Received ! 1] 500 More Su per-Value Topcoats USE YOUR CREDIT PAY AS YOU GET PAID "Money's Worth or Money Back DJ Kaufman - 1005 PENNA. AVE. SOUTHEAST CORNER 1744 PENNA. AVE. 14THA 7 is that it stipulates that no | by | 1 'WOOD SAYS HOOVER 1S RIGHT ON NAVY Indiana Representative Calls ; League Members “Bunch | of Bushwhackers.” The stand taken by President Hoover | with respect to the Mavy League wat | applauded today by Representative Will | PE0a"F Padiana. chairman of the House Appropriations Committee in the last Congress. He referred to officers and members of the Navy League as “bushwhackers” and said if he had been | in the President’s place he would “have | given them hotter shot than Mr. Hoover ( did." Representative Wood recently cen- sured some unnamed officials of the Navy Department whom he accused of “betraying their trust.” He has been engaged in a vigorous denunciation of alleged efforts to thwart the adminis- tration’s economy program. particularly | 2~ regards naval expenditures. Sees Probe Success. He ‘declared emphatically today that the President in his proposed investi- gation will be upheld by the entire coun- | try. He predicted it would be shown the Navy League and other organizations are endeavoring to undermine the ad- ministration's necessary economy pro- gram so as to torestall increase of taxes. “Th.s is the strongest move the Presi- dent could make to expose the insidious lans to_undermine his economy pro- | gram.” Representative Wood said. “I think he is now perfectly aware that the Navy League and others are trying to play politics at the cost of the Amer- ican taxpayer. This. Navy League Is only a bunch of bushwhackers who have {no interest in the country, only #n in- terest in carrying out Its own policy. “I am mighty glad that the Presi- dent acted so promptly’ He had to do | as he did, for if he left the statement of the league go unchallenged it would have had a serious effect on the public. | In making, the investigation he plans he is not usurping any of the preroga. tives of Congress. This investigation need not interfere with any investiga- tion that Congress might make. I, for one, would be glad to have Congress make another investigation and give Mr. Gardiner and his associates an op- portunity to be heard. Declares President Right. “The President is right in reducing | naval expenditures and in exposing the Navy League. In view of the depression it would be foolish to build up to the treaty agreements. Let us wait until | after the Geneva conference in Febru- ary, 1932, and see if any naval reduc- tions are agreed upon in that confer- ence by the world powers. There is no danger of war and we can safely keep down naval expenses until conditions improve. | “I say again the President has the interest of the taxpayers and the Navy at heart and he is proceeding along the line that meets with national approval.” | JAILED TILL IT RAINS Forest Incendiary Must Keep Cell Until Shower Comes. Stanley McCoskey is not singing “Rain, Rain, Go Away; Come Again Another Day.” Stanley McCoskey is in Monterey County, Calif., Jail and he's going to stay a little while. He was convicted of ‘leaving a campfire burning in a forest and was sentenced to stay in jail “until it rains. We hear they have some fine, clear weather in California. And how. All cars are in ex- cellent running con- dition. No Junk! TREADWAY OFFERS SPEAKERSHIP PLAN Temporary Election of Page.! House Clerk, Urged in Case of Deadlock. By the Associated Press. The question of seleeting & suecassor to Nicholas Longworth as Speaker of the House is working more and mor= into the ascendency as convocation of nears. ile one group of Republicans here belittles forecasts that the party will not organize the next House and elect its Speaker, & new thought has been advanced into the discussion by Repre- sentative Treadway, a Massachusetts Republican | From his home in Pittsfield. he pro- posed that William Tyler Page of Mary- land, clerk of the House, be elected temporary Speaker if a deaclock should ensue. Moraterium Tie Feared. i Pointing out that the debt morato- ! rium must be acted upon before Decem- ber 15, Treadway urged that if neces- sary committees be named only as needed to carry out President Hoover's recommendations. Membership of these would be divided equally between par- 2 Selection of the Sepaker could then await solution of pressing problems. Meanwhile, Representative Wood of Indiana, was greeting with a gruff “bosh” the forecast of Senator Moses, Republican, New Hampshire, that the Democrats would organize the next House. He expects the Republicans to fill four vacancies with party candidates before Congress convenes, which would give them & lead of one over the Demo- crats. “The insinuation that the Republican membership will not be loyal is unjusti- fied,” he said. “There is nothing in the situation, as far as I can judge, thai warrants Senator Moses' prediction.” ‘Two other Republicans—Representa- tive Britten of Illinois and Hess of Ohio—yesterday voiccd a belief their party would control the House. Shift of Blame Hinted. But from Representative Sandlin, a | Louislana Democrat, came the expres- | sfon that Senators Moses and Watson | of Indiana are “trying to force organ- ization on the Democrats.” “The Republicans hzve g:tten the country in a mess and now want the | Democrats to take the responsibility of | getting it out,” he said. Eventuztion of Representative Tread- | way's proposal would find no Hou Althcugh there is no such constitutional or legal stipulation, the | House has always chosen a member as | its speaker. Some time ago the suggsstion was made that Calvin Coolidge be drafted by his perty for the speakership. Legality of Proposal. The proposal of Representative Tread- | way was commented on generally at the Capitol today. It has been known that Representa- tive Treadway has had some such| thought in mind for several months and has been studying to see if it would be legal. ‘The constitutional e: ts admit that it would be legal to elect as Speaker one who is not a member of the House, but agree with the leaders of all parties and factions that it is preposterious to think that anything of the sort will be done wi Congress meets in De- cerber. Regarding the election of Speaker, the Constitution merely says: “The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers.” The Speaker has always been a member of to immediately close-out the following cars! 1926 NASH $65 1926 BUICK COACH Cash 39 Cash COACH Cash COACH 1927 OAKLAND 339 1927 Chevrolet Coach $43 i 1 1927 Oldsmobile § | Sedan 55 | Cash 1926 DODGE SEDAN Cash Caph 1927 ESSEX COACH (‘.s! 5275'01 FORD ‘T’ SEDAN 1927 ESSEX COACH | Cash 25 the House, and his term as Speaker | must expire with his term as a mem- ber. The Speaker was first elected by baliot until 1839 and since then by viva voce vote. In 1809 the House heid that a Speaker should be elected by a ma- jority of all present, and in 1879 it was held that & majority of ail the member- ship of the House was not required, but only a majority of those present if a | quorum Plurality of Votes. On two occasions by special rule | Speakers were chosen by a plurality of ! vctes, but in each case the House by majority vote adopted a resolution de- claring the result. The Hou¢> has ae- clined to choose the Speaker by lot. In one instance the Speaker resigned i | | for the first time anywhere— on the last *n¥ A—S B L, R The effect of a law to action of the House in i o officers has been w 5”: law has been of validity in theory and practies, —e- - Wills Employer $1,000. The will of the late Hannah T. Con. nolly. a maid, stipulated that $1,000 be given Mrs. Henry B. Cabot of Brook- line, Mass, her employer. 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